Open-pit mine proposed in Ashland and Iron counties (far-northern Wisconsin)

[Scuba]

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Online

An affiliate of a privately held coal mining company is proposing to spend more than $1 billion to develop a large open-pit iron ore mine on an ancient mountain range in far northern Wisconsin.

Gogebic Taconite has purchased an option to lease the mineral rights on 22,000 acres covering 22 miles, near Mellen and Upson in Ashland and Iron counties.

The company is a subsidiary of the Cline Group, which controls large coal reserves in Illinois and parts of the Appalachian region.

The project is still years from starting. While supporters will trumpet the mine's economic benefits, it is sure to raise environmental concerns, especially potential threats to the Bad River and Lake Superior.



Read more: http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/108584724.html

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Wisconsin went very red on November 2nd. Here's the payoff - 100 generations of pollution for the Great Lakes.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. the #%^&$(*^ Gov-elect

said he'd bring jobs to Wisconsin. So he's killing the jobs for which we've already procured federal funds (rail), and instead we'll have our land and water decimated by mining. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse... :(

[Scuba]

2. I'm afraid it's going to get a lot worse. n/t

[nebenaube]

3. I think we are going to bail... n/t

[bluedigger]

4. Because iron from other sources is risk free to the environment, right?

:shrug:

[1620rock]

5. One of the most beautiful and unspoiled forested ares of the country...sigh,,,

[bluedigger]

6. How's unemployment?

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. Unemployment sucks

that's why we were hoping for jobs constructing, maintaining and made more accessible by light rail.

[Evasporque]

9. now they will create jobs...for out of state contractors...

I would be VERY surprised is Wisconsin locals make up 5% of any workforce on a open pit mega-mine.

[Brickbat]

12. Really? Why?

[FarCenter]

8. Northern WI has been all cut over more than once.

IIRC, a mix of scrufty conifers and aspen, birch, etc., in that area.

[midnight]

10. Money trumps peace moves on into the state and the destruction begins.

[Brickbat]

11. These are good jobs. I hope it moves forward.